The Mobile World Congress, the sector's largest event internationally, will be held in Barcelona again in 2019, the organisation has confirmed today. Even though the political tensions in Catalonia had raised fears it might move to some other city, organisers GSMA will return to Barcelona next year from 25th to 28th February at the Gran Vía de l'Hospitalet exhibition centre.
GSMA's president, Sunil Bharti Mittal, had already hinted at this in comments to the press yesterday. "Honestly, there was some fear over the Catalan situation," he admitted, but, after this year's success, the organisation has decided to return. "I believe it's a great place. It has capacity to contend with this throng," he said.
The 2018 edition saw 107,000 attendees, just under last year's record of 108,000, and income also hit all-time highs, according to the organisation. Whilst the official figures are not yet released, it's expected that the event has brought some 471 million euros (£418 million, $575 million) to the Catalan capital and the surrounding area.